Practice and theory: Algonquin launches degree in building conservation

The program, based in Perth, aims to to produce a new generation of carpenter-philosophers

Published Jan 14, 2024 • Last updated 1 hour ago • 3 minute read

A student with Algonquin College’s heritage carpentry and joinery program at work. The new building conservation degree program will incorporate some of the skills students learn in heritage carpentry. Photo by Dwayne Brown /ALGONQUIN COLLEGE / SUPPLIED

Algonquin College is launching a new program at its Perth campus that aims to produce a new generation of carpenter-philosophers.

Those who complete the building conservation program will get an applied science degree. The program will be the first of its kind in Canada, said Chris Hahn, the dean of the Perth campus.

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There is profound transformation coming to the construction industry and a demand for people who know how to restore, repair and reuse buildings, he said.

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The goal is not just to teach students how to conserve, but also to learn about managing projects, as well as the laws and policies around building conservation, while acquiring the critical thinking skills to recognize the intangible value of existing buildings.

“If we keep spewing carbon into the atmosphere, then we’ll be in trouble.” said Hahn. “A building is carbon. We have to keep it as it is.”

The students will also be asked to bring hands-on and critical thinking skills to conserve buildings that do not necessarily have historical value — buildings that are not even all that old, he said.

“Don’t just think heritage buildings where there is a historical significance. We need people who understand how to tackle challenges with existing buildings. We have to make sure we’re keeping what we have and not just sending it to landfills.”

The new program offers both theory and practice, combining elements of Algonquin’s heritage carpentry diploma and the bachelor of building science, along with heritage conservation. While students are learning about traditional building methods such as timber framing and log construction, they will also be taking courses in subjects like technical writing for reports and grant proposals.

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There are hands-on elements to the program, including three paid co-op placements with over 1,260 hours of hands-on work experience. Algonquin aims to attract a first cohort of 20 building conservation students when the program opens in September, said Hahn.

Perth, with its hundreds of historical buildings, is a great location for the program, he said. The town is also close to Ottawa, and other historical Eastern Ontario communities.

Perth’s historic 1816 “Old Red House” has recently been moved to Perth campus. The building — it’s actually white after it was repainted in 1865 — predates the construction of the Rideau canal, back to the Perth Military Settlement, in which veterans of the War of 1812 were offered land. The Old Red House has served a range of purposes from military headquarters to tavern, church, school and home.

Older buildings have energy efficiency issues, but they also utilize materials that can be restored. Take wood-frame windows, said Hahn. Vinyl windows may be maintenance-free, but if they become compromised, they can’t be repaired. A craftsperson can repair the wood or replace the glass of damaged wood-framed windows. While stone and wood come to mind when it comes to old buildings, the students will also work with other materials, from glass and plaster to aluminum.

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The heritage carpentry and joinery course has attracted a diverse group of students. Some are just out of high school, while others are looking for a mid-life career change, said Hahn. For the building conservation, there are a number of different “pathways” into the program, including credit for academic and crafts skills already acquired.

There’s plenty of work to be had in the conservation field across the country, he said. Examples include Parks Canada structures across the country from hotels to humble cabins, NCC properties and even midcentury neighbourhoods in suburban areas.

“This program combines two worlds,” he said. “I don’t know of any other program that does that.”

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